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Planet Earth is a lot bluer without David Bowie, the greatest rock star who ever fell to this or any other world.<3

These Are the Must-Read David Bowie Tributes

David Bowie was a pop-music visionary who changed culture in specific ways:
“We Always Knew Who David Bowie Really Was,” Judy Berman, Flavorwire
A personal remembrance that cuts through the clichés to illustrate Bowie’s massive influence. “I think David Bowie was an artist who could construct identities and embody them so convincingly, then deconstruct them and move on so quickly, because he knew that makeup and costumes and backstories and sexual proclivities were above all a tantalizing way to put across ideas that are more difficult to convey through pop music than through perhaps any other artistic medium.”

“Thanks, Starman: Why David Bowie Was the Greatest Rock Star Ever,” Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone
Sheffield summed up what so many of us thought after Bowie’s death — “Somehow I really thought he’d outlive us all. After all, he’d outlived so many David Bowies before” — but then cherry-picked highlights (and even lowlights) of his musical career to zero in on what made him great: “He assured his fans we didn’t have to give up on life, didn’t have to play it safe, didn’t have to fall into a rut — and he proved it was possible in his own music.”

“Rebel Rebel: The Fantastic Voyage of David Bowie,” Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AllMusic
“He openly stole from his inspirations while he also possessed a gift for show. He intuited innovation and turned it into theater, his hybrids often ushering the underground into the mainstream. Perhaps Marc Bolan was the first alien to play glam, and certainly Kraftwerk honed the teutonic rhythms of Krautrock prior to Low, but to generations of listeners, it seemed as if David Bowie invented these styles outright. Such was the power of his sound and vision: even when his antecedents were apparent, Bowie made music that felt startlingly original and entirely personal.”

“Let’s Dance: David Bowie’s Everlasting Influence on Pop Music,” Maura Johnston, Noisey
Bowie’s sonic blueprint hovers over today’s pop music in often unexpected, abstract ways, simply because it’s so pervasive, as Johnston points out: “Removing David Bowie from the last half-century of pop would result in its edges being less pointed, its colors being less vibrant, its playfulness being reined in sharply; talking about how Bowie influenced it is like talking about how oxygen affects the breathing process.”

“David Bowie and the Return of the Music Video,” Matthew Trammell, The New Yorker
“David Bowie’s androgynous appearance, his interstellar motifs, and his mind-bending visuals set standards that an unsuspecting public didn’t notice were being set. He pulled audiences across genres toward him, at a time when music was pushed out to targeted demographics in stratified categories that now seem antiquated.”

“Brother from Another Planet: Bowie and Black Music,” Greg Tate, MTV News
“David Bowie ranks as high in our electric church’s Afrofuturist pantheon of demiurges as Jimi Hendrix, George Clinton, and Miles Davis. That’s for his outrageous aristocratic style, not-just-skin-deep soul, badass brinksmanship, and all-around Alter-Negrocity. Not to mention the Starman’s own sui generis take on The Funk. Bowie remains that rarity — a white rock artist whose appropriations of black kulcha never felt like a rip-off but more like a sharing of radical and bumptious ideations between like-minded freaks.”

… an experimenter with a complicated sexual history:
“In Memory Of My Great Gay Saint, David Bowie,” Alex Frank, Pitchfork“His body was so thin and lithe that he bore the elegance of a female swan. He never even needed to actually be gay — to have sex with men — to be gay. He was one of us whether he ever really was one of us. Bowie’s gender and sexuality were probably more outerspace alien than anything found within the narrow confines that we’ve created here on Earth — and we loved him.”

… someone who inspired raw personal reflections:“Grieving David Bowie, a True Rock Star in Life and in Death,” Lindsay Zoladz, Vulture
“I lost someone close to me in his early 20s, the kind of person who acted when others hesitated, who traveled to the places he dreamed about, who did instead of didn’t,” writes our staff critic. “Maybe I’m crazy or sentimental, but in recent years, I’ve come to suspect that he knew. Like some kind of angel or devil had materialized at some point and whispered in his ear exactly how much time he’d get, and he took this information as a blessing rather than a curse. He got to work. At the risk of sounding crazy or sentimental all over again, I found myself feeling this morning like David Bowie knew, too.”

“Reflections of a Bowie Girl,” Ann Powers, NPR Music
Powers traces her personal journey as a “Bowie girl,” reflecting on how her personal relationship with his music grew and changed over the years — and how his influence morphed along with it.

… a generous collaborator:
“Iggy Pop on David Bowie: ‘He Resurrected Me’,” Jon Pareles, the New York Times
“The friendship was basically that this guy salvaged me from certain professional and maybe personal annihilation — simple as that. A lot of people were curious about me, but only he was the one who had enough truly in common with me, and who actually really liked what I did and could get on board with it, and who also had decent enough intentions to help me out. He did a good thing. He resurrected me.”

David Bowie Guitarist Carlos Alomar: ‘He Was So Damn Curious,'” Alomar as told to Kory Grow, Rolling Stone
“He was very easy to connect with. He was happy. He and I shared one gigantic, human thing: We are so damn curious. I wanted to know about everything from his Spiders From Mars; he wanted to know everything about what working with James Brown was like. I wanted to know what the hell is up with all that orange hair and all that glam-rock stuff; he wants to know about the Chitlin’ Circuit. He listened to jazz; I played jazz. It was a meeting of the minds.”

… a sci-fi hero:
“Why David Bowie Was a Geek Icon,” Abraham Riesman, Vulture
“David Bowie was nerddom’s impeccably styled patron saint. In the coming days and weeks, he’ll be compared to other departed musical megaliths, from Lou Reed to Otis Redding to John Lennon. And, yes, he was as sonically influential as all of them. But would Reed have dressed up as an effete Goblin King in Labyrinth? Would Redding have ever starred in The Man Who Fell to Earth? Would Lennon, donned in drag, have played anthemic story-songs about being a gender-fluid extraterrestrial? Only Bowie was crazy enough.”

When it comes to FOALS every record is an affirmation of their unquestionable talent & great potential. Taking steps in the right direction , Foals have produced yet another outstanding must-have album. “It feels like we can do anything,” Yannis Philippakis says and I guess there is no doubt about it. ‘What Went Down’ – recorded in a 19th-century mill in the South of France – thinks bigger and aims higher than its predecessors. Are they on the right track in order to embrace their calling ? One thing is for certain. This new album does not disappoint us in the least. From the ravenous ‘Mountain At My Gates’ to the hauntingly beautiful and emotional ” Give it all ” , What Went Down has a unique sound and stands for itself as probably one of the best albums of the year.

Ever since the release of their first album ” Antidotes ” back in 2008 they have shown remarkable sings of maturity and seem to have finally found a great sound that is truly and entirely their own. Their new release is fraught with massive heavy carved rock sounds and combines fierce , pulsating drumbeats with over-driven guitar riffs that add to the intensity which is perfectly achieved with the aid of Yannis’ impressive , explosive vocals that virtually steal the show from time to time building from a serene ballad into huge climax outbursts that take your breath away.

WWD is at times aggressive , melodic , other times dramatic … always featuring compelling hooks that result in a pleasantly surprising contrast as well as high-charged excitement. Foals aimed at making an album at the peak of their powers , pushing their songs to different levels and extremes. They rely heavily on intuition , soaring emotions , unparalleled energy and chemistry. it’s impossible to deny that the overall album is a hugely accomplished effort and a bold step to the next level while causing a suitably long lasting , stirring effect.

A dark , consistent , brilliantly crafted , magnificent new offering is here and it admittedly impresses. It can be seen as a solid proof of the progression that has taken place between each of their albums . There’s a constant feeling that sublime things are in waiting. “Show me the foothold from which I can climb,” sings Yannis Philippakis in “Mountain at My Gates” and there is plenty of evidence here that suggest a burning , questing determination to find new paths and open new roads.

Florence Welch returns with a renewed spark and a love for new thrills , inviting us to discover her new album as well as her soulful vocals. Along with her band , she has offered us soaring , epic anthems during the past few years and her new release is fraught with moments that overwhelm you , reaching new levels of eloquence and depth in her writing , something that makes her a more complete artist than ever.
“ How Big , How Blue , How Beautiful ” is a rather strong album that evidently carries more personal weight from song to song and it admittedly does so with a great familiar fragility and sensitivity. Flo’s rich arcing singing voice , the ghostly choral vocals and the atmosphere created throughout the album is a little wonder to behold and this does not come as a surprise. Here she seems to grow more honest and comfortable with herself , singing about crossing canyons , surviving betrayed feelings , fighting fears , kissing skylines , being stuck in wrecked relationships and pulling the earth and sea around her.
“ How Big , How Blue , How Beautiful ” is principally focused on a doomed romantic relationship and is delivered in such a manner that finds new , direct ways to touch our feelings and make us identify with it … ranging from soothing , confessing to booming at times but it is nothing less than impressive .
The rich and bold instrumentation as well as the lyrical devastation all cohere perfectly , maintaining a balance of technical mastery and sensitive lyricism. Her new producer Markus Dravs contributes to a great extend in making the final result sound big , blue , beautiful and balanced. All the talent , creative madness and pure sensitivity are fueled by Florence’s unique spark and touch of intensity , an overflow of emotions that are desperately seeking a way out.
Our dear Florence turns her personal turmoil into a thunderous , as it has been called , album adding new depth and mature awareness to the thrill of a range of emotions. After all , she has always been more than able to reveal so fearlessly the secrets of her heart and the hidden treasures of her soul.

Essential tracks to be listened to : Ship to wreck , What kind of man , Queen of Peace , St. Jude

Our beloved EDITORS unveil the highly anticipated video for their new song “ No Harm ” An amazing , strobe-filled clip of austere beauty that is masterfully combined with their music. The band released the track in a secret compilation as a free download last month. Filmed in a grim , grey footage the clip is fraught with surreal notes backing up the whole concept. This is their first collaboration with their friend Rahi Rezvani who seems to share the same kind of love for a certain aesthetic which their music mirrors. The result is a work of art and a sign that the upcoming release is something we should look forward to.

The electro synth beats blend into a landscape of haunting low vocals painted against a brooding , moody melody . A mesmerizing song , slowly evolving , built on warm synth line, Editors’ new release is not something you could not notice for all the right reasons. This time, Tom Smith’s deep voice is accompanied by a minimalistic and spacey beat, as he proclaims himself a “go-getter”. The track is a promising sign of things to come, with the band drawing on synth-y soundscapes to paint a brooding, ominous and cinematic picture that is admittedly addictive and totally captivating .

It seems like only yesterday when the Birmingham stars released 2013’s massive “The Weight Of Your Love” but the band are already preparing the release of their fifth album, having finished mixing it back in March. We eagerly await 🙂 ❤

The bluesy Irish singer-songwriter has been the recipient of much praise for his breakthrough single “ Take me to Church ” as well as for his debut album. The video went viral on You Tube and has received extensive airplay , dominating the charts , thus becoming one of the most-played songs of the year so far.
It seems that no one, least of all Hozier himself, imagined that this introvert kid from the Irish countryside whose second career plan was to become a psychologist would emerge as one of the year’s most unlikely hit makers. Up until last year, Hozier’s musical journey had been a gradual one. Born in rural county Wicklow, Ireland, the son of a blues musician, he attended Trinity College, Dublin to study music. Now he’s one of the most hotly anticipated acts at Coachella !!!
Drawing on the soul & R and B flirting with emotions , brilliantly crafting his music , he adds a touch of rural indie aesthetic to form his own unique style and his smoky soulful voice is the kind that gets you hooked. This sort of impact may have helped to put him on the music map and in the hearts of the listeners shortly after the release of his first album where he deftly moves from topic to topic and casts light on problems both personal and public .
Discernible influences , hints of blues , soul and rock mesh together quite nicely to create a very interesting varied texture. Sharped tongued and sensitive lyrics blend into a captivating soundscape. There is no doubt that the hooks will remain in your ears and the lyrics on your mind for long. Hozier is definitely no one – hit wonder and introduces himself with an admirable solid , bluesy debut !!!

Tracklisting

Disc 1

1. Take Me To Church
2. Angel Of Small Death And The Codeine Scene
3. Jackie And Wilson
4. Someone New
5. To Be Alone
6. From Eden
7. In A Week (Feat. Karen Cowley)
8. Sedated
9. Work Song
10. Like Real People Do
11. It Will Come Back
12. Foreigner’s God
13. Cherry Wine

Bonus / Disc 2

1. In The Woods Somewhere
2. Run
3. Arsonist’s Lullaby
4. My Love Will Never Die

Despite his unquestionable popularity , even the singer himself was shocked and flattered to be asked to perform his song with Annie Lenox at the Grammys just a few months after the release of his self – titled album.

Another year full of music and new releases that have grown on us , inspired us and have found a special place in our hearts ! The end of 2014 is near and we’ve heard some cracking , amazing , breathtaking songs in its brief existence. Well … I am sure everyone’s got their favourite albums and they may be completely different from each other… but here are some of the most inspiring albums of the year that became the soundtrack of our reality ( I am sure there are so many others missing ) 🎶

Looks like music is still our resistance , our inspiration and the greatest passion of all !!! ❤

Let’s hope 2015 has a lot of music surprises in store for us 🙂 #ENJOY …

It’s been a while since breaking into the scene with his well-acclaimed single, “The Blower’s Daughter”. After two rather exceptional albums “O” in 2002 and “ 9 ” eight years ago , Damien Rice finally comes back with the release of his highly anticipated third studio album and one of his most personal releases so far.
A return that fills us with sweet anticipation and the eagerness to get a taste of his favourite faded fantasy. The Irish singer- songwriter reminds us once more of how intensely music , melodies and inspired moments can reach the depths of our souls . His warm and so intimate voice seems to match perfectly to the lovely bittersweet ,sentimental mood of his songs as well as the lyrics.

Tracks like “ I don’t wanna change you ” “ My favourite faded fantasy ” and “ It takes a lot to know a man ” are tangible proof of what a great , talented songwriter he is. With his new heartfelt and sincere work , he manages to find the way to our hearts once more. Being open and vulnerable has never been easy but feeling comfortable , he sings like the weight of his entire world depends on it. Like the strings of his soul echo the things love is all about.

The album flows beautifully with its deep , sentimental , bittersweet moments , bold confessions and simplicity … Damien keeps pushing and pulling you through , making you a part of his inner turmoil. Each song seems to touch a personal romance , narrating a story you can easily identify with. You can’t help but watch it being born, grow and come to life with quiet intros, slow builds and dramatic crescendos that hold such power.
He finds the way to move on and his newborn inspiration comes as a pleasant surprise. There’s nothing reluctant or halfhearted about the bold, dreamy, inspirational music on My Favourite Faded Fantasy !!!
An album that will definitely grow on you as time goes by… unfolding and revealing its beauty. The long wait was totally worth it. Enjoyable in its melancholy refreshing and admirable. Perhaps the extensive amount of years was necessary to create it.

Tracklist:
01. My Favourite Faded Fantasy
02. It Takes A Lot To Know A Man
03. The Greatest Bastard
04. I Don’t Want To Change You
05. Colour Me In
06. The Box
07. Trusty And True
08. Long Long Way

Take a Listen to: My Favourite Faded Fantasy, The Greatest Bastard, I Don’t Want to Change You , It takes a lot to know a man and Colour Me In